Midday Report

The government has announced the first three carbon budgets, setting out the maximum volume of climate warming gasses the country can release.

The first budget - to 2025, allows for 72.4 megatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent greenhouse gasses each year.

The co-chair of the climate change iwi leaders group Mike Smith spoke to Māni Dunlop.

A multi-million dollar policing boost will not deal with the drivers of youth crime, the Green Party says.

The police force is getting a $560 million budget boost, with a focus on preventing gang violence and organised crime.

The Green Party's justice spokesperson Golriz Ghahraman spoke to Māni Dunlop.

Petrol prices could hit $4/litre this year. 

And the Greens say more police will not address the drivers of youth crime.

Early on Sunday morning a meteor shower will be visible, along with the glow of four distant planets which will be in alignment.

Mani Dunlop got the details on where and when to view the Eta Aquariids meteor shower from Auckland Stardome astronomer Josh Aoraki.

A Bay of Plenty regional councillor says he is being racially abused relentlessly for wearing moko mataora - a Māori facial tattoo.

Stacey Te Pohue Rose, who received the ta moko in January, spoke to Māni Dunlop.

News from the rural and farming sector.

Midday Sport News for Friday 6 May 2022

Midday Business News for Friday 6 May 2022

Nearly 15 million people around the world are believed to have died either directly, or indirectly, from Covid-19 - an estimate that's nearly triple the official death toll.

That figure from the World Health Organisation has been described as "sobering" by the agency's chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

It includes deaths from Covid-19 as well as those caused indirectly because people were unable to access treatment for other illnesses, such as cancer.

5.4 million Covid-19 deaths were reported to WHO between 2020 and 2021 - meaning there is an excess of 9.5 million more estimated deaths on top of what has been reported.

University of Washington professor of biostatistics Jonathan Wakefield spoke to Māni Dunlop.

A construction worker was seriously injured by an electrical shock on George Street in central Dunedin this morning.

The street is currently undergoing upgrades with contractors carrying out work in the area.

A nearby shop assistant said the explosion happened just before 9-o'clock.

Māni Dunlop got the latest from RNZ Dunedin reporter Tim Brown.