Morning Report

Māori leaders are seeking an urgent Waitangi Tribunal hearing over the government's handling of the Māori Party's flagship Whānau Ora policy.

The government announced the major funding increase for Whānau Ora over four years in last year's budget, but critics claim too much of that money is going on bureaucrats and "state-driven mechanisms" rather than on programmes devised and delivered by Māori.

Dame Tariana Turia is a former co-leader of the Māori Party, an architect of Whānau Ora, and one of the claimants.

She speaks to Philippa Tolley.

Construction workers from China caught in an employment scam say they were promised fair treatment by the Immigration Minister, but instead have been asked to leave the country.

The workers had their visas extended while they helped with the case against the company involved.

Now four of the workers, represented by the Unite Union, have been asked to leave the country, despite having an employer willing to keep them on.

Mike Treen is the National Director of the Unite Union.

The National Party suspects dirty politics are at play after laptops were stolen from its headquarters, but a business next door was victim to the exact same crime a couple of months ago.

An employee of Brunton New Zealand - an accounting software company - told RNZ the Auckland business had several laptops stolen late last year in similar circumstances.

RNZ political reporter Jo Moir has this story.

The Taradale community is on edge after a gang brawl in the Napier suburb on the weekend. .

Thirty to forty Mongrel Mob and Black Power members fought in broad daylight outside a McDonalds and one man was taken to hospital with gunshot wounds.

Police in the area have been instructed to carry firearms with them in the wake of the brawls.

Locals say it's just the latest in an escalating war between the two gangs.

Napier Mayor Kirsten Wise speaks to Philippa Tolley.

New Zealand firefighters returning from the front lines of Australia's bush fires say there are lessons to be learned back home.

It comes amid growing fears, including from the government, that deadly fires could occur here too.

Mackenzie Smith reports.

Water cuts are looming in pockets of the country that are drying up fast.

Councils in some areas are assembling dry-weather crews, farmers are now giving extra feed to stock, and Northland kiwi birds are now struggling to feed on hard-baked soil.

RNZ reporter Tracy Neal has the story.

Roger Federer proved he doesn't need to play in warm-up tournaments to find form as he launched his bid for a record-extending 21st Grand Slam title by hammering Steve Johnson in straight sets in the Australian Tennis Open first round.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

There's been a surge of people volunteering to become firefighters in Australia since the bushfire season started last year.

In the space of a bit over two months, more than 25,000 people volunteered become firefighters.

The average annual intake is about 4000.

Brent Clayton is the managing director of Fire Recruitment Australia, and told Ben Strang the support has been immense.

Trade Minister David Parker heads to London today to meet his British counter-part in pursuit of an ambitious agreement as early as possible following the UK's exit from the European Union.

Mr Parker says it's vital to pursue talks with the United Kingdom as potential trading partners eye up a deal post-Brexit.

Mr Parker spoke to political reporter Jo Moir ahead of his trip, which also includes attending the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.