Morning Report

A senior doctor in Palmerston North says the hospital's operating theatres are so cramped the lights sometimes bump surgeons's heads.

RNZ reported yesterday that a stocktake of the country's hospitals has revealed many intensive care units, operating theatres and emergency departments are in "poor or very poor" shape.

Dr Jeff Brown is the acting chief executive and acting chief medical officer at MidCentral DHB.

He speaks to Kim Hill.

Police are investigating a racist attack on a wahine Māori with a moko kauae who was walking Ōwairaka, Mount Albert. 

Ngahina Hohaia says she was subjected to racial abuse, and smacked on the arm by an older Pākehā woman after she asked her to put her dog on a leash. 

She says she doesn't feel safe going up the maunga anymore - and the Tupuna Maunga Authority says she's not the only Māori who feels that way. 

A warning to our listeners, some of the language in this story could be upsetting. 

Meriana Johnsen reports.

Politicians in the United States are being called upon by the brother of George Floyd to do the right thing, and make sure his death was not in vain.

Philonise Floyd - the younger brother of the man who was killed by a police officer two and half weeks ago in Minneapolis - appealed to both parties to make changes to policing to protect black people.

He spoke in person to the House Judiciary Committee in Washington, where a hearing was ongoing into police brutality.

It comes after the House Democrats introduced sweeping legislation on Monday which looks to make police officers more accountable, as well as to curb their powers.

Washington correspondent Kate Fisher speaks to Kim Hill.

The National Party is distancing itself from the controversial "Strike Force Raptor" proposal it floated last year, now saying it would not direct the police to set up such a unit.

The opposition had proposed a new specialist police unit be set up to target and harass gangs - a taskforce similar to one operating in Australia.

The idea was strongly backed by then-leader Simon Bridges - but following his ousting last month, the party looks to be edging away from the proposal.

Here's RNZ deputy political editor Craig McCulloch.

Police said in a statement given to us last night that the Armed Offenders Squad and Special Tactics Group would continue to carry sponge rounds, and the weapons are under consideration as part the force's "broad tactical capability".

We also asked the Police Minister Stuart Nash about the potential to expand the use of the weapons and was told in a statement that "no such proposal is in front of the Minister, and he would expect to be consulted if there was such a proposal in the future". 

Police Commissioner Andrew Coster speaks to Corin Dann.

The police are refusing to say if they plan to let front-line officers use sponge bullets to deal with violent offenders.

The weapons are designed to be non-lethal but have sparked outrage in the US where police have fired them at Black Lives Matter protesters causing serious injuries.

One criminologist says such weapons represent the militarisation of police.

Hamish Cardwell has more.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

There are concerns that universities are still churning out social workers who don't have the skills to work well with Māori. 

It comes as report by the Children's Commissioner reveals harrowing stories of Māori mothers experiences with social workers in the state care system. 

Oranga Tamariki says their social workers work hard and are trained to understand colonisation and their Treaty of Waitangi responsibilities. 

But a lecturer in social work at Massey University Dr Paule' Ruwhiu told our Māori news correspondent Leigh-Marama McLachlan that social work degrees lack cultural training.

Small tourism operators are struggling as their clientele have almost been completely slashed, but the Department of Conservation is refusing to discount fees.

Those who use DOC land have to pay fees, but with no one coming to visit the areas, businesses are struggling to come up with the funds.

Mary Hobbs and her husband Charlie operate glacier tours and a cafe at Aoraki Mt Cook National Park.

She reporter Charlotte Cook their pleas for reduced fees are being refused.

University of Waikato criminologist Juan Tauri said the weapons can be hugely damaging and suggesting them was a diversionary tactic.

Police Commissioner Andrew Coster suggested police officers could use sponge bullets yesterday after announcing Armed Response Teams would not be rolled out after a trial.

University of Waikato criminologist Juan Tauri.