Midday Report

News from the rural and farming sector.

The clean out of the White Ferns old guard in the wake of a disappointing World Cup earlier this year is building momentum.

A brief update of movements in the financial sector.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

With leaked documents showing China is seeking a region-wide policing and security deal with 10 Pacific countries, the prime minister Jacinda Ardern is urging a unified response.

The issue of Chinese aggression in the Pacific was on the agenda when the prime minister met with American politicians in Washington this morning.

Professor Anne-Marie Brady, an expert on the China and the Chinese Communist Party at Canterbury University, spoke to Max Towle.

Small businesses should be able to tap into a government fund to help them put up bollards or other measures to protect their stores from ram-raids.

There's been a spike reaching about 40 a month of generally young people, sometimes children, driving cars into shop-fronts.

The government this morning announced $6 million from the 'proceeds of crime fund' would be available for police to work with vulnerable small retailers.

The police minister Poto Williams spoke to Max Towle.

Hundreds continue to flow through Ōrākei marae in Tāmaki Makaurau to pay tribute to the late Joe Hawke.

He led the 506 day Takaparawhau Bastion Point occupation in the late '70s.

On this day 44 years ago protesters were forcibly evicted by the police and army, resulting in 222 arrests.

Joe Hawke died at the age of 82 on Sunday.

RNZ Māori news director, Māni Dunlop spoke to Max Towle from Ōrākei marae.

The cost of renting keeps surging, with median rents for April hitting a record-breaking $580 a week. 

The latest figures from TradeMe shows tenants are now paying, on average, $40 a week more than they were this time last year. 

And - the supply of rental properties continues to decline. 

Renters United spokesperson Ashok Jacob spoke to Max Towle.

News from the rural and farming sector.

40 year old triathlete Andrea Hansen will compete at her fourth Commonwealth Games - and will do so for the first time as a mum.