National's woes come as the party remains stuck at 29 percent in the latest One News Verian poll. But Opportunity is at 8 percent. Guyon Espiner talks to leader Qiulae Wong.

The top stories and other headlines at midday

Film and TV correspondent Tamar Munch reviews new local drama Ms X (ThreeNow) in which a suburban mum tries to frighten her unfaithful husband straight but gets into trouble with the law, drug lords and the ruthless PTA. Monsters of God (HBO) is a documentary exploring the shadowy world of exotic reptile smuggling and Sterling Point (Prime Video) is a new YA drama about twins who are gifted an island by their estranged grandfather.

Nights away from home, challenging activities and new routines, kids may be anxious about the school camp experience.

Cyber security expert Tony Grasso joins Susie to discuss some recent cyber attacks, including one on Australia's biggest energy retailer and another aimed at real estate agents and property managers in Australia. Russian actors have been targeting routers used in many countries including New Zealand. And the NCSC here has had to warn about a scam where people claiming to be employees tell the victim their systems have been compromised and offer to "help". Cybersecurity expert Tony Grasso is Chief Information Security officer at COGENT. He worked at GCHQ in the UK and is a former Intelligence Officer in New Zealand.

James discusses the new special education school announced by the Education Minister, a new health clinic is offering free services to women and gender diverse patients, the natural burial sites proposed for Tairawhiti and Steven Adams brings his basketball camp to Gisborne.

The polls are open in the Cook Islands for its four-yearly election, what's on the minds of voters?

The latest RNZ Pacific news in the French language (La Langue Française).

Professor Tim Flannery is one of Australia's leading writers and communicators on climate change.

Taking stock of Wednesday's National Party leadership challenge; Electricity Authority on falling wholesale power prices; Security Service says security challenges have intensified; Wellsford GP on Auckland ambulance patients sent to Whangarei; First Table CEO on health of New Zealand's hospitality sector