Midday Report Essentials for Wednesday 17 December 2025

The Crown is returning more than 3,000 hectares of land to Maori in the top of the South Island - ending what's thought to be the country's longest running property dispute; Wellington's regional council is warning another bus driver shortage could be on the way if there's no change to immigration settings; The funerals of the victims of Sunday's terrorist attack have begun; The cherry-pit-spit nationals take place in Cromwell on December 28th.