Morning Report

It's not yet summer but parts of the central South Island are already at extreme risk of fire.

Climate data shows areas east of the Southern Alps are tinder dry, much earlier than usual.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand says fires already in Otago have put them on alert.

Tracy Neal has the story.

Two of the outstanding performances from the Black Caps first Test victory over England have resulted in significant improvements for BJ Watling and Neil Wagner in the latest ICC world Test cricket rankings.

The former chief executive of the Hepatitis Foundation says the board chair who racked up more than $128,000 of travel expenses should resign.

As RNZ reported yesterday a two-year investigation into the charity has revealed the foundation splashed out on lavish dinners, flights and hotels, and could not account for thousands of dollars of credit card expenses.

John Hornell left the foundation in 2015 after eighteen years.

He attended the dinners at what he calls fancy restaurants, and describes them as extravagant.

He speaks to Corin Dann.

Board chair Professor Chris Cunningham has not responded to calls from RNZ.

A team of 10 doctors, nurses, and support staff are in Samoa helping at a district hospital on Upolu.

There are also 30 New Zealand vaccination nurses helping with the mass immunisation.

Dr Scott Wilson is the leader of the medical assistance team and spoke to Susie Ferguson.

Leader of the Opposition Simon Bridges has revealed a raft of suggestions from the National Party to crack down on crime, with a special focus on gangs.

The discussion document released yesterday proposes tougher parole and sentencing conditions, a ban on patches and a special anti-gang squad Strike Force Raptor.

Mr Bridges speaks to Corin Dann.

The National Party is proposing introducing a "Strike Force Raptor" to harass gangs, based off a squad of the same name in New South Wales.

Greg Coombes is a lawyer in the NSW town of Grafton and has represented numerous bikie gang members.

He told Corin Dann how Strike Force Raptor operates to try and harass gang members.

A high-ranking member of the Mongrel Mob's Tauranga chapter wants to meet National leader Simon Bridges to tell him his plans for a gang crackdown won't work.

The law and order discussion document the National Party released yesterday outlines its plans to crack down on gangs.

It wants to set up a specialist police squad akin to Australia's Strike Force Raptor that would target and harass gangs.

Mr Bridges also wants tougher parole and sentencing conditions and a ban on patches and insignia.

Mongrel Mob member Greg Molony met with Mr Bridges earlier this year to discuss his stance on gangs and is now requesting a meeting to talk about the announcement.

He told RNZ reporter Katie Scotcher if implemented, the National Party's plan would fail.

Samoa is still in the clutches of a deadly measles outbreak, which has claimed the lives of 32 people so far.

Freelance journalist in Apia, Maina Misa Foma'i Papalii says some families wait until it's too late to take their children to hospital - and many rely on traditional medicines instead.

She speaks to Susie Ferguson.

There is no end in sight to the deadly measles epidemic in Samoa and there's a warning it will take the country a long time to recover.

The death toll now stands at 32 - most of victims children under the age of four.

There have been over 200 cases just in the last 24 hours - and almost 2500 cases since the outbreak started last month. Two Auckland Samoan women have decided they need to do something to help.

Chen Liu has the story.

Auckland's high-decile state schools are topping up their government funding with millions of dollars more than similar schools in other parts of the country thanks to international students and, for primary schools, higher donation income.

RNZ education correspondent John Gerritsen reports.