Morning Report

The fiscal debate is back on the campaign trail, as the National Party reboots its claims of a hidden bill in Labour's manifesto. But Labour has fired back, saying there is no bill and National should stop spreading lies. Deputy political editor Craig McCulloch spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

In the swing seat of Hutt South, a cabinet minister's career is potentially on the line this election. National's Chris Bishop won the seat by just over 13-hundred votes in 2023, having lost it to Labour's Ginny Anderson in 2020. But with National's party vote low - keeping his seat could be key to him remaining in Parliament. So what's the electorate thinking? Mary Argue talked to some locals.

An early morning sports news update.

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

From today, drivers, cyclists and e-scooter riders face several changes to the road rules. A's Research & Road Safety Manager, Dylan Thomsen discussed the changes with John Campbell.

Auckland's average asking price has slipped under the $1 million mark for the first time in six years. Data out this morning from realestate.co.nz shows the region's asking price for September was $993,000. Auckland real estate agent Diego Traglia spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Documents released under the Official Information Act reveal cancer surgeries are being cancelled and patients are being transferred as far as Christchurch after two Southland urologists quit. Health New Zealand has approved pay rates of $3000 a day for locums to fill the gap. Chief Executive of the Cancer Society Southern, Christine Prince spoke to John Campbell.

Documents released under the Official Information Act reveal cancer surgeries are being cancelled and patients are being transferred as far as Christchurch after two Southland urologists quit. Health New Zealand has approved pay rates of $3000 a day for locums to fill the gap. Otago Southland reporter Katie Todd reports.

An early morning update from RNZ's business team.

Researchers have been investigating the impact of using RAT tests to detect influenza, Covid-19 and RSV at GP clinics, to see if they improve treatment and help curb the spread of winter illnesses. Professor Maria Stubbe co-authored the study, she's from Otago University's Department of Primary Health Care and spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.