The 2021 Taite Music Prize will be awarded this evening at Auckland's Q Theatre with 10 of New Zealand's best albums released over the last 12 months vying for the prestigious award.

RNZ's Music 101 presenter, Charlotte Ryan, takes us through this year's contenders.

Glaring inequities for Maori hospitalised with life-threatening trauma have been unearthed by a new study. It's the first time the Health Quality and Safety Commission has examined whether critically injured Maori have the same survival rates as non-Maori. The findings are unequivocal - inequity exists. Tangata whenua are 56 percent more likely to die in the month after the trauma - excluding brain injuries - than non-Maori And Maori aged 15 - 18 are three times more likely to die. Dr Dick Ongley from the Commission told Meriana Johnsen questions need to be asked of DHBs.

Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta has outlined her plan to reframe New Zealand's relationship China.

In a wide ranging speech at the New Zealand China Council, the minister said the country needs to diversify its trade arrangements and not put all its eggs all one basket with China, while at the same time signalling resistance to invoking the Five Eyes alliance when disagreements with China emerge.

Mahuta spoke to Corin Dann.

A breach at an MIQ facility in Fiji has seen Covid-19 slip into the community for the first time since March 2020.

That has seen the towns of Nadi and Lautoka plunged into lockdown, with restrictions placed on the rest of the country from this morning.

In a national address on Monday the Fijian Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama shared the early results of the investigation into the breach.

New research finds there's a high chance of the Alpine Fault rupturing in the next 50 years, with an earthquake measuring magnitude eight or higher.

The faultline - which runs up the spine of the South Island - has ruptured four times in the past 900 years, producing an quake of about magnitude eight each time.

Scientists had thought there was about a 30 percent likelihood of another quake this big by 2070 - but now they're saying that figure is 75 percent.

Dr Jamie Howarth is a senior lecturer in natural hazards at Victoria University and lead this research.

A review into Wellington's billion dollar highway Transmission Gully has found the project was flawed from the start.

An interim review into the 27-kilometre highway has found serious flaws at the planning stage of the public-private partnership project, along with a lack of transparency.

The motorway was supposed to cost $850 million, but has now blown out beyond $1.25 billion.

Transport Minister Michael Wood spoke to Susie Ferguson.

Patients requesting euthanasia will be given unapproved, unregulated and "off label" medicines, sparking warnings of prolonged and distressing deaths.

People who choose to swallow or ingest the fatal medicines, rather than taking them intravenously, will be given drugs that are compounded - or mixed up - by a pharmacist and provided to the patient without that concoction being approved by the regulator MedSafe.

The Ministry of Health says those opting for an injection would be given drugs that have been approved by MedSafe but for a different purpose - so the medicines will be provided for an unapproved, or "off-label" use.

Guyon Espiner has been investigating how prepared New Zealand is to introduce euathanasia.

The Exclusive Brethren Church has been using the discredited private investigators Thompson and Clark to spy on former members.

A two-year investigation for RNZ has found the church, described as cult-like by some, is a major and secret client of the controversial private investigators.

Investigative reporter Nicky Hager says the discredited company has dossiers on at least 20 former members of the Exclusive Brethren, based on street surveillance, monitoring of social media, checks in public records and information supplied by church leaders.

Thompson and Clark was the subject of an enquiry by the State Services Commission after it was caught spying on Canterbury quake claimants and state abuse complainants.

Nicky Hagar says these former exclusive brethren members have committed no crime against the church, which now calls itself the Plymouth Brethren.

Doug Watt of the Plymouth Brethren Church says just like any church, we are sad if someone leaves us, but wish them all of the best in their lives, and of course, hope that one day they will change their mind. In a written statement Watt says

"What our Church or leadership does not do is launch secretive, clandestine, overnight operations with hired private investigators!"

And he goes on to say "While we cannot comment on the actions of every individual within our Church, it is certainly true to say that the Church leadership has absolutely no knowledge or involvement in the matters you have described.

Thompson and Clark have also responded to our story saying In a written statement Gavin Clark says "Thompson & Clark has always strived to operate within the law and the rules and regulations of our industry.

He says this was confirmed by the Private Security Personnel Licensing Authority and the Police following the State Services Commission inquiry.

Clark says the Police advised Thompson & Clark that it found no evidence of any criminal offending by either the company or its contractor regarding work done for Southern Response.

While, the licensing authority ruled that Thompson & Clark did not breach the Act or the Code of Conduct for private investigators and is not guilty of misconduct or gross negligence.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

Staff at Queenstown Airport are working hard to make sure no cases of Covid-19 sneak through the border.

The first flight from Australia touched down at 2.30pm on Monday afternoon and four more are due on Tuesday.

Staff are carrying out random temperature checks and have a contingency plan if anyone lands with a fever.

Queenstown Airport chief executive Colin Keel spoke to Susie Ferguson.