Midday Report

News from the business sector

The National Party leader says there were differing accounts of allegations against Sam Uffindell.

The Tauranga MP has returned to the party's caucus after a King's Counsel's investigation didn't substantiate bullying claims made against him.

A former flatmate of Mr Uffindell says she provided a written statement to the KC, Maria Dew.

The woman stands firmly by her account of what happened at the flat, and is deeply unhappy Mr Uffindell's word was taken over hers.

University of Auckland lecturer in New Zealand politics and public policy Dr Lara Greaves spoke to Māni Dunlop.

The Prime Minister has announced a new initiative to research social media algorithms, but does not yet appear to have buy-in from some key tech players.

Jacinda Ardern made the announcement in New York this morning, after co-hosting a summit with the French president Emmanuel Macron.

The initiative is backed by New Zealand, the United States, Twitter and Microsoft, but is notably missing the giants Facebook and Google.

Internet NZ's interim chief executive Andrew Cushen spoke to Māni Dunlop.

Many world leaders are now heading to New York for the United Nations' general assembly, including New Zealand's prime minister Jacinda Ardern.

The meeting will be the first in-person General Assembly in three years, after the pandemic restricted movements.

And their agenda is full with talk of war, famine, plague and climate catastrophe.

RNZ's deputy political editor Craig McCulloch spoke to Māni Dunlop from New York.

Artist Tāme Iti has taken it upon himself to correct his name used in an art piece on display at a Wellington hotel.

The painting depicts Mr Iti holding a gun and a skull in front of an Australian flag on the ground by Dean Proudfoot is named 'Tama Performs in a New Zealand Landscape'.

In a video - Tāme Iti - goes into the hotel, crosses out Tama in red paint and rewrites his name correctly... 'T-ā-m-e' in white paint just above.

Māni Dunlop has more.

News from the rural farming sector

Midday Sports for 20 September 2022

News from the business sector

An international business expert is warning the risk of a trade war over climate change is very real.

A climate and business conference in Auckland heard some countries are itching to slap tariffs on products with the excuse that producers are not doing enough to cut their emissions.

NZ International Business Forum executive director Stephen Jacobi spoke to Māni Dunlop.

Parliamentarians are poring over each other's foibles for evidence of bullying, while applying a non-stick coating to themselves. 

Yesterday, National Party leader Christopher Luxon said an investigation found Tauranga MP Sam Uffindell "did not substantiate any allegations of bullying outside of [his] time at King's College".

But, National did not release the final report. 

Meanwhile, Labour MP Anna Lorck says she's doing her best to be a better manager of staff, following bullying allegations.

RNZ political reporter Giles Dexter spoke to Māni Dunlop from Parliament.