Morning Report

News from the business sector, including a market report.

Police Minister Stuart Nash is talking tough ahead of Friday's deadline for people to hand in their banned firearms.

Gun owners have until midnight tonight to take their semi automatic rifles and shotguns to a buy back event or police station, or run the risk of being arrested.

So far 50,000 have been handed in, which Mr Nash says is a good result.

He told RNZ reporter Conan Young that hanging on to these weapons could carry serious consequences.

A state of emergency has been declared in New South Wales as a record-breaking heatwave exacerbates the state's bushfire crisis.

For the second day in a row, a new record has been set for Australia's hottest day.

On Tuesday the maximum average high for the country hit 40.9 degrees.

But that record had only lasted 24 hours 41.9 is the new figure.

More than a hundred fires are blazing across the state, with four leaping to emergency levels during yesterday's horror conditions.

Corin Dann speaks to Greg Allen from the New South Wales Rural Fire Service.

News from the rural and farming sector.

A brief update from the business sector.

A week after voters in the UK went to the polls for what many called the 'Brexit Election', Queen Elizabeth has opened a new session of Parliament by delivering the Queen's Speech.

It puts Britain's withdrawal from the EU at the top of Boris Johnson's agenda. RNZ's correspondent in London is Olly Barratt.

New Zealand sailor Josh Junior continues to lead the Finn Gold Cup fleet after four days of racing in Melbourne.

Holiday makers face long delays and massive queues today as the Christmas exodus begins. Republicans call Donald Trump's impeachment the 'most rushed, least thorough and most unfair' in history. The gun amnesty ends tonight but both the pro- and anti-gun lobby are calling for an extension. And Australia's all time record temperature has been broken again.

The last of the MPs are escaping Wellington on Thursday morning, heading back to their home cities as Parliament shuts up shop for the Christmas break.

Their final duty was the end-of-year debate - one last chance for the politicians to duke it out and land some punches.

Our deputy political editor Craig McCulloch pulled together this report.

Te reo Māori is now in space.

A star and it's orbiting planet have been named after New Zealand's native wood pigeon the kereru, and the karaka plant.

A global competition to come up with names encouraged people to draw on their cultural heritage as well as imagination.

There were 150 entries from New Zealand. Hugh Williams a teacher from Lower Hutt came up with both names but is a joint winner with Jamie Andersen of Nelson who also submitted the name karaka.

Doctor Nick Rattenbury from Auckland University helped lead the naming campaign and is part of the International Astronomical Union.