Morning Report

The government will cap Council rates increases at 4% from 2029, with limited exceptions. It says the move will ease cost-of-living pressures, and get councils to focus on the basics. At the same time the historic city deal between Auckland Council and the Government is under pressure, after the Prime Minister ruled out a bed tax if National is re-elected - the deal committed to consider an accommodation levy in 2027. Minister for Local Government and Minister for Auckland Simon Watts spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

US correspondent Ira Spitzer joins John to talk about Parton's life.

It's been a record season for kiwifruit company Seeka, meanwhile farmers are busy with lambing and calving but also keeping a watchful eye on the forecast. Rural News on Morning Report with Gianina Schwanecke.

An early morning sports news update.

The health system has been given a dire diagnosis at a public meeting where experts and advocates called for more funding for workforce and infrastructure. The 'health of our nation' community meeting brought together clinicians, patient advocates and health leaders to discuss the pressures the system is under. Penny Smith was there.

Catch up with the latest headlines from around the world with RNZ's Alice Wilkins.

Almost 10 million dollars of the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy will be spent on reducing the wild goat and deer population across New Zealand's conservation landscapes. There are approximately 1.8 million wild deer and several hundred thousand wild goats across the country, costing farms hundreds of millions of dollars in damage and repair bills every year and invading native bush. Federated Farmers pest management spokesperson, Richard Dawkins spoke to John Campbell.

Minister Stanford on proposed social media ban; Weekly interview with opposition leader; Mackenzie District contemplates revenue without levy; Weight loss drug use driving protein demand; What Labour's tax changes could mean for property prices

A team of researchers at Auckland University of Technology wants to teach AI to recognise the sound of possums to help track down more of the destructive pests. AUT postdoctoral fellow Amin Barzegar spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss about the technology and its potential.

At Wellington Hospital's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, infant mental health is treated as equally important to physical symptoms. Health correspondent Kate Green reports.