Morning Report

The rate of people dying in road accidents has jumped back up, following a record low during lockdown.

Drivers are being urged to slow down, check their cars and to take extra care as more traffic and pedestrians hit the streets.

Eva Corlett filed this report.

The Canterbury DHB has revealed it asked for $438 million dollars to rebuild its terribly overcrowded and rudown hospital - but had no choice but to settle for a third of that.

The chair Sir John Hansen says he was put in the invidious position of telling the board to accept a 'sub optimal' replacement The $150 million on the table is only enough to build a five storey tower and fit out two floors - so three will be empty shells.

The board's resolution goes to the Government's Capital Investment Committee on Monday, for approval.

This puts an end to a three-year fight by the DHBs' top doctors for a six storey fully-fitted Tower 3, and an early start on Tower 4 with more wards and surgical theatres.

Sir John told our reporter Phil Pennington he understands angst over the building. He says he felt it too when he got this message from the government's Capital Investment Committee about the bid for $400 million.

Sir John says they hope to have funding to fit out the three empty floors of Tower 3 once it's built.

He says a working group has already started looking at how to meet patient demands with a truncated Tower 3, no Tower 4, and beds having to remain in the rundown Parkside and Riverside blocks.

A damning review into the country's aviation watchdog has recommended a complete overhaul of how staff are trained and how complaints are managed.

The ministerial review into the Civil Aviation Authority was prompted after seveal staff blew the whistle on what they called an "old boy's club."

The report found that staff complaints about bullying and sexual harassment at the agency were poorly handled.

Minister for Transport Phil Twyford speaks to Kim Hill.

Simon Bridges and Todd Muller will face off at midday after Muller made clear he intends to challenge Bridges for the leadership of the National Party.

MPs were called back to Wellington for the vote after Simon Bridges revealed he knew it was coming during media interviews on Wednesday.

Political commentator Ben Thomas speaks to Corin Dann.

Pubs and bars are reporting a sluggish first day back after the lockdown, with the "Fear Of Going Out" or, perhaps, the joy of staying home, thought to be a reason for the low numbers.

Venues which primarily serve alcohol had to wait a week longer than other businesses to invite customers back because of the extra risks they are thought to pose.

So in order to open they've had to limit the number of people allowed in, keep customers seated and adhere to strict social distancing and contact tracing rules.

RNZ reporter Matthew Theunissen overcame his own FOGO visiting a few bars last night to see how staff and customers are coping.

A lifelong friend of the man shot and killed by police in Waitara this week says he doesn't bear a grudge against the officers involved in the death of Alan Rowe - who he simply knew as Snow.

Instead, Stacey O'Carroll blames himself for losing contact with a mate - who he considered a brother - and not being there when his friend needed him most.

He spoke to RNZ Taranaki reporter Robin Martin who began by asking him what kind of guy Alan was.

The National Party is due to decide its leadership at midday today, after it was revealed Todd Muller was planning to challenge Simon Bridges for the role.

Bridges revealed he knew about the challenge on Wednesday and National MPs will hold an extraordinary meeting today for the vote.

Political commentator Matthew Hooton is supporting Muller to win - Kim Hill asked him how close does he expect the vote to be.

It's high noon for the National Party and MPs decide at midday who will lead them into the September election.

Simon Bridges called the bluff of contenders Todd Muller and Nikki Kaye, forcing a vote on his position and that of his deputy Paula Bennett, following a disastrous poll on Monday.

A second poll last night delivered even worse news, putting National at 29 percent - numbers not seen since the early 2000s under Bill English. Bridges also took a dive in that One News Colmar Brunton poll in the preferred Prime Minister stakes, dropping six points to 5 percent, against Jacinda Ardern on 63 percent.

Labour's party vote also skyrocketed to a record 59 percent.

National MPs have been converging on the capital for an emergency caucus meeting to vote on the leadership, the first time they've come together in person since the lockdown.

Political editor Jane Patterson speaks to Corin Dann.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

It was another bad poll result for National Party leader Simon Bridges last night ahead of today's leadership vote.

The One News/Colmar Brunton poll laid bare the scale of Bridges' popularity problem. National Party support dropped to 29 percent, its lowest in the poll for 15 years and just half of Labour's 59 percent.

In the preferred Prime Minister stakes Bridges was down 6 percentage points to just 5 percent.

Simon Bridges has led the National Party for two years and almost three months - but that tenure could end today if his party decide the Tauranga MP is not the man to take National into September's election.

But what does the public think of him?