Morning Report

A brief update on the movements in the financial sector.

One of the lighter moments this year was in the month leading up to the impeachment hearings when President Trump rejected Ambassador Sondland's testimony there was a quid pro quo for Ukraine to investigate political rival Joe Biden.

Just before boarding his helicopter Mr Trump stepped in front of the cameras to say: "I want nothing. I want nothing. I want no quid pro quo".

Mr Trump scrawled the message in black felt tip pen on Air Force One notepaper.

Last week he was awarded PolitiFact's lie of the year for his repeated assertions that the Ukraine whistleblower got the story wrong about his phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

People took his message one step further mashing it into various musical versions.

We shared some of our favourites for our final show.

Next year will be a year of intense political drama in the United States.

Donald Trump hopes to make history by becoming the first impeached President ever to win re-election.

Americans go to the polls in November, and Democrats will spend the early part of next year tussling with one another in the race to become the party's standard bearer in the election.

This year was dominated by investigations in Washington - first Robert Mueller's inquiry into ties between the Trump campaign and the Russians and then the Democrats' impeachment inquiry.

Our Washington Correspondent Simon Marks looks forward by looking back.

Thirty-five workers at two Bunnings Warehouse stores have received some shocking Christmas news; they may not have jobs after Friday.

Staff were alerted on December 18 that there could be redundancies at the Waikanae and Te Aroha stores.

But yesterday they were told the outlets would be closed for good.

Kirsten Miller is from First Union and speaks to Susie Ferguson.

Making Australia's bowlers get through a heavy workload is the focus for the Black Caps batsmen in the Boxing Day cricket Test.

Summer Report is back in 2020 with Leigh-Marama McLachlan and Logan Church for three weeks to keep you informed and up to date as we celebrate the great New Zealand summer.

The programme will run weekdays at 8am, from the 2 January.

Leigh-Marama and Logan speak to Susie Ferguson and Corin Dann about what they've got planned.

A 32-year wait comes to an end on Thursday when the Boxing Day Test Match between the Black Caps and Australia begins in Melbourne.

Played at the famous Melbourne Cricket Ground, or MCG, the match is one of the most anticipated on the sport's annual calendar.

New Zealand, though, hasn't featured in the Test since 1987, when Australia controversially held on for a draw with one wicket in hand, clinching a 1-nil series win.

After a resounding defeat in the first Test played in Perth, the Black Caps must win the Boxing Day match to keep their hopes of winning the three-Test series alive.

Senior batsman Ross Taylor told Clay Wilson the team is relaxed and looking forward to the historic occasion.

As it's Christmas we decided it would be good to catch up with some of our correspondents we have spoken to during the year.

Our correspondent in Washington is Brent Budowsky from The Hill.

Christmas Day won't be the quintessential sunny BBQ or day at the beach for everyone unfortunately. 

While the weather is looking ok for most of the country there will be some questionable gifts in the form of rain for Otago, lower Canterbury, parts of Southland and the Bay of Plenty.

Weather Watch forecaster Richard Green speaks to Susie Ferguson.

It's the end of the year and we're looking back on some of the best bits.

We loved this teenager's response when speaking to John Gerritsen about her and her classmates having their access to their cellphones curtailed during school time