Midday Report

The Queen of New Zealand has been laid to rest following a funeral, committal service, and private family gathering.

The queue to view the Queen lying in state is now closed to newcomers, as attention turns to the funeral of Queen Elizabeth the Second.

Hundreds-of-thousands of people have filed past the coffin in silence and world leaders have joined the public to pay their respects to the late monarch.

Tonight, Westminster Abbey will be the setting for the historic event which will be on a scale not seen in Britain since the death of the Queen's father King George VI, 70 years ago in 1952.

In attendence will be members of a New Zealand delegation chosen by the government who are among 500 other heads of state and government, and foreign dignitaries.

The funeral starts at 10 o'clock our time tonight.

Crowds are already packed along the funeral procession route hoping to see the casket.

Among many who waited to see the queen lying in state - were Kaiora and Francis Tipene, directors of Tipene Funerals who are also known for their show, The Casketeers.

Māni Dunlop caught up with them at the end of a very long day where they had just been with the Aotearoa delegation.

News from the rural farming sector

Midday sports News for 19 September 2022 Half the Jamaican netball team has finally arrived in New Zealand for the test series against the Silver Ferns, three days late.

News from the business sector

Fifty paintings from BNZ's art collection were sold at auction in Auckland yesterday, bringing in more than $13.5 million.

Five Colin McCahon paintings alone fetched a combined $3.7 million.

Te Papa Tongarewa bought some paintings, but many will go into private collections and overtime their values will continue to appreciate. 

Tax consultant Terry Baucher told Māni Dunlop why art was not taxed.

Climate leaders and businesses are being warned they need to do more - at home and abroad to help reduce planet-warming emissions.

At a climate and business conference in Auckland this morning, the Prime Minister told businesses that if they do not start cutting emissions they face being left behind in the global marketplace.

And New Zealand's UN climate ambassador Kay Harrison says Aotearoa has a moral duty to give money to help poorer countries adapt to the warming globe.

RNZ's climate reporter Hamish Cardwell spoke to Māni Dunlop from the event.

Air New Zealand's inaugural flight from New York to Auckland arrived this morning, minus many of the passengers' bags. 

Conducting the nearly 17 hour flight, covering more than 14,000 km, and spanning the Pacific Ocean meant a tradeoff had to be made between reaching the destination and carrying everyone's items. 

The airline's chief operating officer Alex Marren said extra fuel had to be loaded onboard due to "adverse weather" conditions they needed to fly around; and so some customers' bags were unable to make the journey.

RNZ reporter Lucy Xia spoke to Māni Dunlop from the airport.

Midday News for 19 September 2022

China and Russia's presidents have met in person for the first time since Vladimir Putin launched his illegal invasion of Ukraine. 

Putin says he appreciates China has questions and concerns over Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The two leaders have been meeting face-to-face in Uzbekistan at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, a group which includes China, Russia, India, Pakistan and other Asian states.

University of Canterbury Chinese politics expert Professor Anne-Marie Brady spoke to Perlina Lau.