Midday Report

A Northland woman is offering up a secluded getaway free-of-charge for Nelson residents whose homes have been badly hit by flooding or landslides.

Kristan Lopes told Māni Dunlop why she was offering up her place in Kerikeri.

If you are in Nelson and want to get in contact with Kristan about her offer - please email us at [email protected] with a bit of blurb about your circumstances and how the recent severe weather has affected you and your family. We will share those with Kristan as we receive them.

In housing news, KiwiBank believes the country's housing shortage has more than halved in the last year falling from an estimated 57,000 homes to 23,000.

That's in part due to the country building 41,000 homes over the last year - the most since 1991.

KiwiBank's senior economist Jeremy Couchman spoke to Māni Dunlop.

News from the rural farming sector: Sheep are traced by mobs through a paper-based system, but that needs to be moved online to better protect against diseases. There's been talk in New Zealand about sharpening up our systems following the foot and mouth outbreak in Indonesia. Fruit grower Scales Corporation has reported a positive half year result despite a smaller apple crop. Hay and silage wrap company ProAg is the latest to join a scheme which collects and recycles plastic waste from farms.

Midday sports News for 24 August 2022: Former captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio and defender Jane Watson return to the Silver Ferns squad for upcoming internationals against Jamaica and Australia. The Black Ferns back Ruby Tui believes they've improved dramatically since last year's end of year tour, where they suffered four heavy defeats to England and France.

News from the business sector: Spark's shareholders are in line for a big payday, following the partial sale of its cell towers and an improved full year result. Meridian Energy has posted a steady full year underlying profit although its headline number was swelled by the gains from an asset sale. The healthcare and animal care products company EBOS has posted double-digit profit growth, with annual revenue topping Australian $10 billion for the first time.

Opposition MPs are labelling a restructure of the Ministry for Children as disappointing for our most vulnerable children.

Controversial legislation to restructure how Oranga Tamariki is monitored has passed its final vote in Parliament.

The Oranga Tamariki Oversight Bill has been met with fierce opposition from political parties and youth advocates.

It gets rid of the country's top watchdog for young people, the Children's Commissioner, in favour of a new system Labour says will be better.

ACT's Karen Chhour, who grew up in state care, told Māni Dunlop the Government had not listened to the very children it's trying to protect.

Parliament's changing its speaker after Trevor Mallard yesterday formally resigned.

A pōwhiri has just taken place for his replacement Adrian Rurawhe who will be formally sworn into the role at Government House this afternoon.

RNZ's political reporter Katie Scotcher spoke with Māni Dunlop.

Midday News for 24 August 2022

The latest data from TradeMe show house prices have fallen six percent since peaking earlier this year.

Auckland has had the biggest fall dropping $102,000 since March this year.

TradeMe's property sales director Gavin Lloyd spoke to Māni Dunlop.

A so called anti-government protest has reached parliament in a scene reminiscent of the occupation earlier this year.

However, today there's also an anti-fascist protest nearby.

The lead for the Disinformation Project at Te Pūnaha Matatini Kate Hannah spoke to Māni Dunlop to help contextualise what was going on.