Morning Report

Government looks into second harbour bridge; Urgent reform needed for our ailing aged care system; Weekly interview with opposition leader, Chris Hipkins; Why are Ooshies so popular?; Dunedin rest home owner on the aged care report

A 14-year-old Auckland tap dancer has won big at two global dance competitions, taking away three gold medals. At the Dance World Cup 2026 World Finals in Ireland, Daisy Insley won gold in the Tap Solo section, before snatching another in the "Showstopper" freestyle dance. Her third gold came in the Tap Solo category in the Global Dance Open contest in Spain. Daisy and her dad Justin Insley spoke to John Campbell.

A neighbour of a cracked and deteriorating Auckland heritage building wants to see a collective effort to repair it. Built in 1854, the former Fitzroy Hotel on Wakefield Street is considered the oldest remaining brick building in Auckland's C-B-D. But Auckland Council's deemed it dangerous, and arguments over fixing it, are lumbering through the courts. In the meantime, the building's empty... and deteriorating. Erin Johnson reports.

A major report by a ministerial advisory group into aged care warns there could be a shortage of more than nine thousand residential beds in just over a decade, at an extra cost of nearly 600 million dollars a year. Queen Rose Retirement Home is a 29-bed rest-home-level facility in Dunedin. Its manager and co-owner is Andrea De Leon spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

An early morning sports news update.

The latest market updates and news from RNZ's business team.

Struggling retail sector with new card data showing a jump in July, what can we read into it?

The mayors of Queenstown and Auckland have written to the Infrastructure Minister urging for a pause in the fast-tracking of new large-scale greenfield residential developments. But others around the country are voicing their concerns too, with the mayors of the Waimakariri and Selwyn district councils also putting their names to a seperate open letter calling for a halt. They argue their councils have meticulously planned for the high growth expected in the coming years and fast-track developments risk running roughshod over that work. Selwyn District Mayor Lydia Gliddon spoke to John Campbell.

The government's announced a detailed business case for a new Harbour crossing in Auckland. Transport Minister Chris Bishop says the second crossing will be the largest and most expensive infrastructure project ever undertaken in New Zealand. Labour leader Chris Hipkins spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Kmart has been ordered to pay a Christchurch couple just over 15 thousand dollars to cover costs incurred by removing asbestos-contaminated play sand from their home. In November last year, Kmart issued a recall notice for some coloured play sand products after testing found asbestos - prompting many family homes, daycares and schools to undergo intense cleaning processes. Gemma Rasmussen - from Consumer NZ believes it's the first Disputes Tribunal ruling about recalled children's sand. One of the successful complainants, Elle Chrisp, spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.