Morning Report

News from the business sector, including a market report.

Eight disability groups that joined forces for the first time, to bid to run communications services for the deaf, hard of hearing and speech impaired, have been stymied.

The $30 million seven-year contract has gone to a US callcentre operator, Concentrix, which has all its shareholding in low-tax Ireland.

One consortium member blames an inept tender run by the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment Audit New Zealand says the tender followed government rules.

Advocacy group Deaf Australia says Concentrix has compromised a similar service over the Tasman since it took over a year ago.

Hearing New Zealand's Tony Rush told Phil Pennington local input should carry more weight.

A founder of the Māori Party, Dame Tariana Turia says it looks as if National has given up trying to attract Māori voters.

The new Opposition Leader Todd Muller is under fire for putting only white faces in his top twelve.

Dame Tariana worked with National under John Key and was the Minister for Whānau Ora as well as associate Minister of Health and Housing.

 

She told RNZ deputy political editor Craig McCulloch Muller's new lineup is deeply disappointing.

News from the rural and farming sector.

A brief update from the business sector.

There are fears Aurora Energy's $400 million upgrade to its power network in Otago will disproportionately affect those least able to afford it.

Under the Dunedin City Council-owned company's proposal, line charges may increase by up to $500 a year.

With the economic effects of Covid-19 wreaking havoc in Queenstown Lakes and Central Otago there are calls to revisit the plan.

More violence is expected in Hong Kong today, with a number of unions saying they will take to the streets to protest against a controversial new national security law.

Protests occurred over the weekend, with the police using tear gas to repel the protesters.

If carried out, the law would pave the way for Hong Kong's pro-democracy protestors to be charged with separatism and terrorism, and could see China set up intelligence agencies in Hong Kong for the first time.

Yesterday, Hong Kong's leader Carrie Lam defended China's new national security law for the territory.

Speaking at a media conference, she tried to allay concerns by standing up for the law, saying it is a "responsible" move to protect the law-abiding majority.

She described the worries of the protestors as just their "imagination". 

Beijing correspondent Patrick Fok spoke to producer Harry Lock earlier on about the response to Lam's comments.

Māori fishing companies have slashed the prices of some of their top quality products by up to 70  percent for iwi to help support whanau during the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Sealord has contributed more than eight tonnes of battered and crumbed seafood portions to over 30 different iwi, and Moana New Zealand has provided almost 13,000 ready-to-eat meals.

The general Manager of the Iwi Collective Partnership, Maru Samuels, told Te Aniwa Hurihanganui iwi have purchased large amounts of the discounted kai, and gifted them to whanau for free ensuring whanau have access to food during the pandemic.

Top stories this morning... We reveal more details of what the donations to the New Zealand First Foundation have been spent on. New documents show the police knew its controversial Armed Response Team trial was flawed from the start. Also on Morning Report... The Opposition gets flak for its new front bench line-up. We will talk to Todd Muller Disability groups that bid for a 30 million dollar public contract lose out to an American callcentre operator

Marlborough winemakers are hoping the best harvest in a decade will help them shore up exports and boost cellar door sales.

Covid-19 hit hardest as the harvest was in full-swing, forcing a rapid shift in how it was managed.

Now the grapes are in, some say the hard work is only just starting.

RNZ's Nelson-Marlborough reporter Tracy Neal has the latest.