Morning Report

Two New Zealand superstars this year were a pair of Little Blue Penguins who made headlines around the world when they decided to make their nest under a sushi shop.

The pair crossed a busy four lane central Wellington road to find a nesting site, and were pretty determined to stay there. It was actually one of our overnight bulletin editors, Anna Chinn, who first called in the news of Wellington's waddling vagrants.

So they were being chased down and removed from the shop store near the capital's train station, not once - but twice.

The store's owner, Long Lin, lured them from under the shop with some of his fresh premium salmon.

We checked in with Mike just what happened to the penguins

He says he thought the 'Sushi penguins' tried FOUR times to return to buildings and streets close to where they were picked up the first time at the Sushi Bar.

They eventually got the message and didn't come back.

Mr Rumble hopes they managed to find a nesting place somewhere else, had two chicks, and all four are now somewhere in the Wellington Harbour.

If you want to see the antics of the penguins from back in July, head over to our facebook page facebook.com/morningreport

It's been 32 long years since New Zealand have played a Boxing Day Test match against Australia - in Australia.

But come Thursday the Black Caps will face-off against their long-time rivals in Melbourne, where last time they met in 1987 it ended in a controversial draw.

A record 16,000 Kiwis have purchased tickets to the test to support their team at the MCG One of them is Matt Fowler from the Victoria University of Wellington's Cricket Club.

He speaks to Corin Dann.

We've crossed to a variety of correspondents across the globe throughout the year, and it's time to check in with them for a retrospective on how 2019 went for their countries.

RNZ's correspondent in Berlin is Thomas Sparrow.

He speaks to Susie Ferguson.

Central Otago fruit growers say housing could come under more pressure as their industry expands.

While many orchards have staff accommodation available, some businesses say they're losing good staff who can't find a permanent place to live.

Tess Brunton reports.

A brief update on the movements in the financial sector.

We've crossed to a variety of correspondents across the globe throughout the year, and it's time to check in with them for Christmas.

RNZ's Paris correspondent is Hugh Schofield.

He speaks to Corin Dann.

Shop owners estimate the country's Santa Sack will contain 2.8 billion gifts this year costing $10 billion.

With just two shopping days left until Christmas people are being asked to spare a thought for the thousands of shop asistants run off their feet, selling and wrapping the merchandise.

Eleisha Foon looks at what it's like working in the lead up to Christmas.

New Zealand's loyalty to lamb has pushed glazed ham out of prime place on at dining tables this Christmas.

Retail Meat's Christmas census of 1300 people has laid bare food plans and preferences for 25 December, including dining times, cooking methods and what's on peoples' plates.

RNZ reporter Katie Todd has the full results.

The skipper of the boat that got separated from a diver yesterday, is describing it as a terrible case of deja vu.

Rob Hewitt spent four days and three nights at sea in 2006, drifting between Mana and Kapiti Islands, before being rescued.

On Sunday, he took three recently qualified divers to fetch some Christmas kina off Wellington's South Coast, when one of them never returned to the boat.

He was swept out to sea, and was rescued 10 kilometres into Cook Strait about half-past-seven last night after a search by police, coastguard and the Westpac helicopter.

Rob Hewitt speaks to Corin Dann.

The New Zealand golfer Michael Hendry concedes he didn't think he would finish his final round at the Australian PGA Championship let alone be challenging for the title.