Midday Report

News from the rural farming sector Gisborne kiwifruit growers are considering their legal options - after the High Court ruled Sungold Kiwifruit licenses worth hundreds of thousands of dollars a hectare, can be included in the rateable value of their property. Southland Federated Farmers is offering to source feed and grazing for flood-hit Tasman and Marlborough farmers. Plans are underway to transform New Zealand's forestry sector so more trees are processed here and investment in wood-based biomass fuel is increased.

Midday sports News for 23 August 2022 Manchester United's Dutch manager Erik ten Hag has earned his first win in football's English Premier League - a 2-1 derby win over Liverpool at Old Trafford turning fan protests against the club's owners into a night of celebration. With his job now secure, the All Blacks coach Ian Foster insists it's business as usual and says he doesn't view this week as a 'fresh start'.

News from the business sector for 23 August 2022. The retirement village operator Summerset's headline profits have fallen on reduced property value gains, however, stripping out the one-offs its underlying profit increased on the back of strong development margins and new sales demand. Media company NZME's profit is up by more than a third with strong revenue growth. Financial services company Heartland Group has posted a record full year profit on improved lending and constrained costs, as it eyes further expansion in Australia.

Mana whenua have been urging visitors to respect tikanga and maintain a peaceful protest.

At the last parliamentary occupation Taranaki Whānui laid down Te Kahu o Te Raukura - a cloak of aroha and peace - over the grounds and their ancestral whenua, to bring calm to the situation.

They are hoping Wellingtonians face minimal disruption to the city.

Taranaki Whānui chair Kara Puketapu-Dentice spoke to Māni Dunlop.

An anti-fascist protest is calling for peace in Wellington, as a so-called freedom protest marches through the city to Parliament.

RNZ reporter Charlotte Cook was with the anti-fascist protesters and spoke to Māni Dunlop.

On the grounds outside Parliament, a so-called freedom protest is underway.

It's being opposed by the counter-protest of an anti fascist movement. 

RNZ Wellington reporter Hamish Cardwell spoke to Māni Dunlop from outside Parliament.

The Labour Party caucus has expelled Dr Gaurav Sharma.

He calls himself a whistleblower; but the party's leaders paint him as a rogue.

RNZ political reporter Katie Scotcher spoke to Māni Dunlop about the decision.

Midday News for 23 August 2022

A majority of New Zealanders believe cats should be more tightly controlled.

New research commissioned by the Predator Free NZ Trust found most of us think they should be microchipped, desexed, and the total number allowed per household should be limited.

The Trust's chief executive Jessi Morgan spoke to Māni Dunlop.

Just 40-percent of children regularly attend school, and it turns out most of us don't rate the issue as important.

"Regular attendance" means missing one or fewer days of school each fortnight.

And the government cites recent polling showing only five per cent of New Zealanders considered attendance a top-of-mind issue. 

A nationwide school attendance campaign was launched today, called Every School Day is a Big Day.

The President of Secondary Principals' Association and Papatoetoe High School principal Vaughan Couillaut spoke to Māni Dunlop.