Morning Report

A weekend of flooding and slips has closed several state highways in the South Island.

The Transport Agency's Pete Connors speaks to Corin Dann after stepping out of a briefing about the state of Canterbury and West Coast highways for Monday.

Extra food supplies will be flown in to Franz Josef over the next few days to ensure the 900 tourists trapped there and local residents don't run out.

The town is cut off from the north and the south and not likely to be reconnected with the rest of the country until at least Friday.

RNZ reporter Conan Young is in Franz Josef and speaks to Kim Hill.

All Black Ardie Savea and Black Fern Charmaine McMenamin have been voted international men's and women's players of the year by their fellow New Zealand professionals.

The government says it will phase out more single-use plastics like polystyrene meat trays, takeaway cups and containers, after a new report on plastic waste from the Chief Science advisor.

According to the report, 8.3 billion tonnes of plastic has been produced globally since the 1950s, and 79 percent has gone to landfill or been discarded into the environment.

The Government's full response to the report, including a focus on recyling plastics, is expected in the next six months.

Associate Environment Minister Eugenie Sage speaks to Kim Hill.

Supermarkets and waste management companies are hoping the Government will adopt a National Plastics Action Plan, to combat plastic waste.

This is one of the recommendations in the rethinking plastics report from the Prime Minister's chief science advisor. J

uliet Gerrard also recommends better labelling on plastics, and streamlining kerbside recycling around the country, so people know how to recycle correctly.

RNZ political reporter Charlie Dreaver has the details.

Bus drivers in Wellington say they're forced to work 12 hour days, don't get proper breaks, toilet stops or time to do safety checks, and hardly see their families.

RNZ talked to drivers working for Tranzurban, the company now running 60 percent of Wellington's bus services.

Almost 150,000 children in New Zealand come from families that are unable to afford enough to eat, good shoes and warm clothes.

Those figures are included in the 2019 Child Poverty Monitor report, released this morning by Children's Commissioner Andrew Becroft.

He speaks to Corin Dann.

Bus cancellations on routes operated by NZ Bus are going ahead in Auckland today after an eleventh hour meeting on Sunday night failed to solve a dispute between NZ Bus and the bus drivers' union.

Many drivers for NZ Bus were suspended for refusing to collect fares last week as a strike action.

They're pushing for better wages and a solution to split shifts.

More than fifty bus routes, including school buses operated by the company have been cancelled and could be off the roads until Christmas, if a solution isn't reached.

Wild weather on the West Coast has prompted a Civil Defence response, after flooding and washouts left many cut off.

Nearly 1000 tourists are trapped in Franz Josef as of Monday morning.

The only access in or out is via helicopter and many of them may not be able to get out until Friday.

Civil Defence Minister Peeni Henare is in Hokitika.

He speaks to Corin Dann.

The Timaru District remains in a state of emergency with road access north to Christchurch blocked by damage to two bridges crossing the Rangitata River.

Hundred of tourists were left scrambling to find accommodation in the region last night.

RNZ reporter Tess Brunton is at the Southern Trust Events Centre in Timaru where many people have been spending the night.