Morning Report

Investigators reported finding many flaws in a major bus operator's safety systems after a bus careened down a hill killing three people near Gisborne in 2016.

But these findings were dropped by the time the case made its way through the courts.

Two months ago Ritchies was ordered to pay almost $1 million, mostly in reparations, after admitting to safety flaws in the way it hired out buses.

Phil Pennington is looking into this.

The Government is introducing new powers which it says will protect New Zealanders' interests in important assets such as ports and airports, telecommunications and electricity infrastructure.

A new national interest test will be used before the sale of sensitive and high-risk assets to overseas buyers.

Associate Finance Minister David Parker says the new powers will be used rarely and only where necessary.

Mr Parker speaks to Morning Report.

Tauranga's Bay Oval will become the ninth venue to host Test cricket in New Zealand when the Black Caps play England in the first test tomorrow.

The British band Coldplay has chosen the Otago Daily Times - of all the world's media outlets - to reveal the lyrics to their new album.

The paper features the words to the 15 songs on the album the band will release on Friday.

But why the ODT?

Nick Dahl, the paper's national advertising sales manager speaks to Corin Dann.

Four top US officials are testifying in the impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump today.

At question is a 25 July phone call in which President Trump asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to investigate his political rival Joe Biden.

Three of today's witnesses listened in on the phone call between Mr Trump and Mr Zelenskiy.

RNZ's correspondent in Washington is Jagruti Dave.

More New Zealand medical staff are due in Samoa today as the death toll continues to rise from a measles outbreak in the country.

Samoa declared a State of Emergency on Friday to deal with an epidemic, which so far has killed 16 people - many of them children. Yesterday the Samoan government reported a total of just over a thousand cases of measles.

Eighteen more vaccination nurses from New Zealand are arriving in Apia today to help which will bring the total number of New Zealand nurses working in Samoa to 30.

Freelance journalist in Apia, Maina Misa Foma'i Papalii says a number of factors have led to low immunistaion rates in Samoa.

Previously immunisation was handled locally by the villages' women's committee, but that has been done away with, requiring people to travel to the hospitals to get vaccinated, and there have been warnings against vaccines on social media after two babies died last year when vaccines were mixed incorrectly.

Ms Misa Foma'i Papalii told Kim Hill its a frightening situation.

Warning: This story contains themes that may disturb some people.

The jury in the trial of the man accused of murdering Grace Millane will continue to hear defence evidence today.

The 27-year-old, whose name is suppressed, didn't get into the witness box yesterday but did elect to call evidence in his defence.

One of his lawyers, Ron Mansfield, opened the defence with a strong message to the jury that blame and shame had no place in determining the case.

RNZ court reporter Anneke Smith speaks to Kim Hill.

New Zealand First has allegedly breached electoral law.

The party has received tens of thousands of dollars in loans from the New Zealand First Foundation. Loans are not subject to the same disclosure rules as donations.

The Electoral Commission has received a complaint and is seeking more information from the party. NZ First leader Winston Peters says he's confident the party has always acted within the law.

But National Party leader Simon Bridges says the allegations are serious and an inquiry is needed.

Mr Bridges speaks to Kim Hill.

Preparations have been under way at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds for Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall historic visit today.

It's been 25 years since Charles or any member of the royal family visited Waitangi - and the day is expected to draw together the who's who of the North.

RNZ Māori news director Māni Dunlop is there.

The prospect of power price hikes across Otago is being met with horror and fear.

Aurora Energy is proposing households pay about 18 percent more from 2022 to 2024, to cover upgrades to its ageing infrastructure. But a critic says the eventual cost to customers will be a lot higher.

Katie Todd reports.