Morning Report

An early morning sports news update.

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

House prices have fallen and interest rates are rising again - by why aren't more New Zealanders getting into home loan trouble?

Auckland Council has purchased 100 hectares of land for a future cemetery - despite opposition from Iwi and the local board. The rural site near Karaka in the city's South cost the council $16 million. It's as Tamaki Makarau's cemeteries approach their burial capacity. Auckland Council's General Manager of Parks and Community Facilities, Taryn Crewe spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Green Party supporters have made clear what their priority for the election will be - tax the rich. Green Party MPs met with the wider party membership in South Auckland this weekend for their Annual General Meeting. At it, the party unveiled their 2026 manifesto and called on a pause for consents for AI data centres. Political reporter Tuwhenuaroa Natanahira was there.

Engineers at Mount Maunganui are on alert again after three landslips within a 48-hour period over the weekend. Tauranga Council Recovery Manager Charlie Rahiri spoke to Corin Dann.

National's announced it will gradually extend paid parental leave to 30 weeks if elected in November. Since 2020 primary carers have been eligible to 26 weeks paid leave following the birth of a child. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

ACT is promising to gradually increase Pharmac's budget so more medicines can be funded. Currently, just 4.9 percent of the health budget is spent on medicines, compared to 12.2 percent in Australia. Patient Voice Aotearoa has long campaigned to improve drug funding. Its founder Malcolm Mulholland spoke to Corin Dann.

Several National politicians are at risk if current polling is replicated on election night, with one senior MP already admitting it's unlikely he'll keep his seat. Political reporter Giles Dexter reports.

An early morning sports news update.