Midday Report

Two far-right activists had to be dragged to the dock in front of the judge before being removed from a Christchurch courtroom this morning.

Kelvyn Alp and Hannah Spierer, presenters on the far-right platform Counterspin, were making their first appearance on charges of distributing objectionable material and failing to comply with police orders.

Protesters had also gathered outside the courthouse.

RNZ Ōtautahi reporter Niva Chittock has been covering the proceedings and spoke to Charlotte Cook.

Authorities in Pakistan are racing to prevent further catastrophe and loss of life, with about a third of the country already under water - that's roughly the size of Aotearoa.

Nearly 1200 people have been killed - the death toll includes almost 400 children.

Pakistan's High Commissioner to New Zealand Murad Ashraf Janjua spoke to Charlotte Cook.

Seasonal allergy sufferers should brace for a bad spring and summer, with lots of pollen expected.

Those with asthma should keep their medication with them at all times.

NIWA meteorologist Ben Noll has the forecast and joins us.

News from the rural farming sector

Midday sports News for 30 August 2022 Ukrainian qualifier Daria Snigur has produced the performance of her career to upset two-time Grand Slam winner Simona Halep in the first round of the U.S. Open in New York.

News from the business sector

Ukrainian troops have launched a counter-offensive to retake southern territory illegally and forcefully captured by Russia during its invasion.

This morning, the New Zealand Defence Force sent another 120 soldiers over to the United Kingdom to help train Ukrainian recruits.

The defence minister Peeni Henare spoke to Charlotte Cook.

145 toilet paper factory workers who haven't been paid for weeks are now facing a pricey legal threat.

Manufacturing company Essity has locked workers out at its Kawerau mill, and is now suing them and their union - for $500,000 dollars in damages. 

The company says it has no comment to make.

The workplace relations minister Michael Wood told RNZ's Political editor Jane Patterson he hoped the matter could be resolved.

One of the locked-out workers Bill George spoke to Charlotte Cook.

Six former Gloriavale women are trying to prove they were employees not volunteers when they lived in the Christian community on the South Island's West Coast.

Gloriavale's leaders deny that the women were ever employees.

The  Employment Court hearing  is set to run for five weeks.

Charlotte Cook spoke with RNZ's Christchurch reporter, Tessa Guest, who was following the proceedings.

Primary health nurses are rallying on the streets today, asking to be paid the same as their counterparts in hospitals. 

Primary healthcare nurses work at General Practices, after-hours emergency centres, Plunket, Māori and iwi health providers, Urgent Care and Family Planning. 

They said they were being treated as second class, they're paid up to 25-percent less despite having the same qualifications, training and responsibilities. 

Auckland youth health nurse Mikey Brenndorfer spoke to Charlotte Cook.