Morning Report

A brief update from the business sector.

The British government has followed New Zealand and Australia in suspending its funding to the Commonwealth Secretariat, the body that runs the international organisation from in London. UK diplomats have told the secretary-general of the Commonwealth that Britain's annual contribution will be withheld until her secretariat improves its financial procedures. Here's our London correspondent, Benji Hyer.

As the Flaxmere community reels from the injuries inflicted on a four-year-old boy, leaving him brain damaged, doctors say it's something they deal with on an all-too-regular basis.

Jeff Brown is the New Zealand president of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, and a paediatrician at Palmerston North Hospital.

He told our social issues reporter Sarah Robson it's not uncommon to see children in hospital with non-accidental injuries.

A large scrub fire is burning near the of Marlborough settlement of Rarangi.

Fire crews were called to the scene on Port Underwood Road just before midnight.

RNZ reporter Charlotte Cook has the latest.

The government is considering taking Rio Tinto to court to get it to clean up hazardous waste from its Tiwai Point aluminium smelter.

Around 10,000 tonnes of ouvea premix is still sitting in a disused paper mill on the banks of the Mataura River.

The toxic waste came close to being swamped by flood waters last week which could have set off a highly dangerous cloud of ammonia gas.

The tough talk from Environment Minister, David Parker, follows claims the company reneged on a verbal agreement given just last week to remove the waste.

Sort Out The Dross action group spokesperson Cherie Chapman told RNZ Otago-Southland reporter Timothy Brown the company should take care of its waste, instead of palming off the problem on to the people of Southland.

Peter Burling and Blair Tuke have gone top of the standings heading into the second half of the 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 world sailing championships in Geelong.

A furious government threatens the Tiwai Point smelter with court action over hazardous waste. Hundreds rally in Flaxmere to condemn violence against children. The Hong Kong Sevens and Chinese Grand Prix are cancelled because of coronavirus. Winston Peters takes to Facebook to explain party donations, but gives few answers.

Voting is underway in New Hampshire in the first primary of this year's US elections.

Senator Bernie Sanders is the favourite to win the primary, after narrowly coming second behind Pete Buttigieg in Iowa.

But the handful of voters in two tiny towns where polls opened at midnight plumped for the billionaire Mike Bloomberg - who was not even on the ballot - and a centrist senator, Amy Klobuchar.

President Donald Trump was also in New Hampshire for a campaign rally yesterday.

Correspondent Nick Harper spoke to Susie Ferguson.

Australia's High Court has blocked a bid to deport two men with Aboriginal heritage - one of them born in New Zealand.

Brendan Thoms and Daniel Love had been detained and threatened with deportation by the Australian government as a result of serving jail sentences.

Yesterday the court decided that's unlawful, meaning the Government can no longer deport any person with Aboriginal heritage, regardless of their birthplace or citizenship.

Brenda Thoms was immediately released from prison after the court's ruling after 501 days in detention.

Lawyer for the men Claire Gibbs from Maurice Blackburn Lawyers speaks to Corin Dann.

Three more National Party MPs have resigned, but leader Simon Bridges says there's no cause for concern.

Sarah Dowie, Nicky Wagner and David Carter have announced they will not be running in the September election.

Three more National Party MPs have resigned, but leader Simon Bridges says there's no cause for concern.

Amy Adams, Nathan Guy, Maggie Barry and Alastair Scott all announced last year they will not be running.

Wagner and Carter speak to Susie Ferguson.