Morning Report

Ahamed Samsudeen called himself a terrorist and threatened guards while he spent time inside New Zealand's maximum security prison, a Coroner has heard. The inquest at the Auckland District Court has been told there was no programme to deradicalise Samsudeen while they had him in prison. Shortly after his 2021 release, Samsudeen stabbed six shoppers at a West Auckland supermarket, before being shot dead by police. Finn Blackwell reports.

Three of four Northland district and regional councils will propose to the Government that they be merged. Ken Couper, Mayor for Whangarei and the spokesperson for the collective of Northland councils that are proposing amalgamation and spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

An update on what's happening in the sports world with Nathan Rarere.

Business update for 23 July 2026.

Our Business Editor Corin Dann here is for the details - in for Susan Edmunds.

A medical imaging machine Whakatane has been waiting years for has ended up instead in Masterton. Eastern Bay of Plenty locals needing an MRI scan still have to trek toTauranga to use one of its seven MRI machines, all privately owned. Phil Pennington reports.

A Canterbury school says it plans to keep its open-plan classrooms that have worked for their teachers and students. Education Minister Erica Stanford, yesterday, celebrated milestones in the Ministry of Education's conversion programme for schools wanting to turn their "modern" learning spaces into classrooms with walls. Rolleston's Lemonwood Grove Primary School principal Blair Dravitski spoke to John Campbell.

The Housing Foundation is a charitable trust that helps lower-income families get into their first home through shared ownership, rent-to-own, and financial mentoring schemes. Dominic Foote, CEO of Housing Foundation spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Sports News for 23 July 2026.

The countdown is on as Dunedin prepares for daytime darkness for the first time since 1163 AD. On 22 July 2028, the moon's shadow will pass directly over parts of Otago including Dunedin. Tess Brunton reports.