Midday Report Essentials for Tuesday 9 December 2025

A blaze in Tongariro National Park is raging on. While crews are still battling to contain it, the local hapu says they're a lot further ahead than last time; The nurses union says people are waiting longer to see their GP because nurses are leaving primary healthcare for better pay overseas, or in hospitals; An all-age summer pastime will get its own New Zealand championship next year - stone-skimming.