Morning Report

Senior National Minister Chris Bishop has praised the Prime Minister at a public meeting in Wellington, as he acknowledges politics is a "tough sport." Chris Bishop is under pressure to regain his Hutt South seat to ensure he gets into Parliament, and both he and Christopher Luxon were on a charm offensive in Lower Hutt. Political Reporter Russell Palmer reports.

Research shows it takes an average of eight to 12 years to get a diagnosis in New Zealand - partly because surgery is used to confirm it. The government's changes - due to be rolled out next near will GPs can make a clinical diagnosis based on symptoms and family history, and can then prescribe treatment immediately. Melissa Aubroeck, who waited 12 years for a dianosis, spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

A community housing leader says there is a direct relationship between growing homelessness and the government's decision to tighten emergency housing eligibility. About a third of emergency housing applications made to the Ministry of Social Development are being declined every month, according to recent figures. Before the middle of 2024, when stricter rules kicked in, fewer than one in 10 were rejected. In a statement, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka said emergency housing isn't a long-term solution, and unsuccessful applicants are offered other support. He says changes made in 2024 were accompanied by increased support for people with housing needs, as well as more public and transitional housing. But the chief executive of Community Housing Aotearoa - the umbrella organisation representing the sector - says people only need to look out in the street to see the results. Paul Gilberd spoke to John Campbell.

The government says its trying to find more ways so bring power prices down, and its now targetting network companies. Network charges pay for things like poles, wires and substations and make up about a quarter of household power bills and account for two thirds of recent price increases. MBIE's produced a discussion document asking whether there legislative changes are needed to make the sector more efficient and affordable The Minister for Energy Simeon Brown spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

A coalition of 29 American states is suing Facebook owner Meta. Lawyers for Colorado, California, New Jersey, and Kentucky are leading the legal action. They allege the platforms Facebook and Instagram were designed to be addictive to children and teens. Meta says it strongly disagrees with the allegations. San Francisco correspondent Ira Spitzer spoke to John Campbell.

The latest rural news with Gianina Schwanecke.

An early morning sports news update.

Despite high youth unemployment and the spectre of AI, teenagers attending the Taranaki Careers and Training Expo this week are optimistic about their future. Up to three thousand young people were expected through the doors of the TSB Stadium where education providers and employers were pitching their wares. Our Taranaki Whanganui reporter Robin Martin went along.

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

companies to manage their slash and sediment - but only where there's evidence to do so. The region's infrastructure faced significant damage during Cyclones Hale and Gabrielle in 2023, when forestry debris and sediment came off steep hills, into rivers, onto farmland, and roads, and beaches. In response, the council attempted to introduce new rules - something the government has paused while it's reforming the resource management act. Forestry Minister, Todd McClay, says the council's scaring off investors with their tough approach, and he's appointed experienced, former local government leader Doug Leeder as a facilitator to "reset" the relationships between council, industry and iwi. Doug Leeder spoke to John Campbell.