Midday Report

Welcome to Midday Report essentials with Guyon Espiner. In today's episode: New Zealand moves towards free trade talks with Switzerland, but, are we locked in? Trade expert Charles Finny joined us. Without military enforcement, are trade agreements are just stacks of paper? Retired general John Howard put his case. Paddy Gower joined me for his take on the week in politics, and RNZ's deputy political editor Craig McCulloch goes through Winston Peters' announcements on the new cook strait ferries.

An update on the latest news and results from RNZ's sports team.

Australia will establish an Office of AI at the heart of government that will address AI's impact on climate change, energy, education, jobs, copyright, and defence. Dr Andrew Lensen, a Senior Lecturer in Artificial Intelligence at Victoria University of Wellington spoke to Guyon Espiner.

A lack of testosterone might not be the first thing that comes to mind if considering weaknesses in the American military. But Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has other ideas. He has announced that the Department of Defense will offer testosterone deficiency screening for soldiers. CNN's Kevin Liptak spoke to Guyon Espiner.

An update on the latest news from RNZ's rural team.

Former ACT MP Heather Roy spoke to Guyon Espiner about what Paul Henry's selection could do for the party ahead of the election.

US strikes on Iran have continued, in retaliation for Iran attacking ships in the Strait of Hormuz. US correspondent Nick Harper spoke to Guyon Espiner from Washington DC.

An update on the latest news and results from RNZ's sports team.

The Justice Select Committee is hearing from organisations at the frontline of dealing with homelessness as the legislation enabling police to issue Move On orders moves through Parliament. The Christchurch Methodist Mission has just made its submission. Its Executive Director Jill Hawkey spoke to Guyon Espiner.

Alexander Gillespie discusses latest US strikes on Iran; Retail NZ explains possible effect of OCR hike in spending; K Road businesses looking forward to Matariki and CRL opening; K Road businesses looking forward to Matariki and CRL opening.

An update on the latest news and results from RNZ's sports team.

Karangahape Business Association manager Jamey Holloway spoke to Guyon Espiner about this weekend's Matariki celebrations, and the imminent opening of the CRL.

The latest news from the United States with correspondent Lauren Tomasi.

Carolyn Young, CEO of Retail NZ spoke to Guyon Espiner following the Reserve Bank's decision to raise the official cash rate by 25 basis points yesterday.

The US military has struck Iran in a new round of attacks which came just a few hours after President Trump said he thought the three week old cease-fire was over. Waikato University International Law professor Alexander Gillespie spoke to Guyon Espiner.

An update on the latest news and results from RNZ's sports team.

China's new Ethnic Unity law came into effect last week with a provision indicating that Beijing could target people overseas for inciting ethnic separatism. That has sparked concern about how Chinese living in New Zealand could be impacted by the law. Joanne Ou, the Representative of Taiwan for New Zealand spoke to Guyon Espiner.

The latest news from Australia with correspondent Amanda Copp in Canberra.

An update on the latest news from RNZ's rural team.

The latest news from RNZ's business team.

Two months worth of rain fell on Kaikoura in just 48 hours. The deluge led to evacuations, including for patients needing to travel for hospital care. Kaikoura Mayor Craig Mackle spoke to Guyon Espiner.

Labour has announced a new energy policy. The SolarSaver scheme offers loans through your local lines company and would change the rules to allow renters to install plug-in solar. Labour's Energy spokeswoman Megan Woods spoke to Guyon Espiner.

An update on the latest news and results from RNZ's sports team.

The latest news from RNZ's business team.

The latest news from Australia with correspondent Amanda Copp in Canberra.

On today's episode... Trump's man in Wellington has his first media outing. The American ambassador is billionaire sports tycoon Jared Novelly he's talking critical minerals and critical issues for the New Zealand-American relationship. Michael Laws is in a come back bid for Parliament standing for New Zealand First - he told us which Ministerial portfolios he wants and why he thinks the Prime Minister lack of charisma is a political weakness. And it's Friday so we wrap the week in politics with Paddy Gower.

An update on the latest news and results from RNZ's sports team.

Weekly chat about the week in politics with Patrick Gower and Guyon Espiner.

Michael Laws has told Midday Report that he wants to be Minister of Broadcasting if he returns to Parliament after the November election. He spoke to Guyon Espiner.

News from the rural farming sector.

News from the business sector.

Sports tycoon and billionaire Jared Novelly has presented his credentials to Governor Dame Cindy Kiro and officially taken up his post as the US ambassador to New Zealand. Phil Goff, who served two terms as Foreign Minister of New Zealand and was an ambassador himself to the UK, before being removed by Winston Peters for questioning Trump's vision and leadership, spoke to Guyon Espiner.

Sports tycoon and billionaire Jared Novelly has presented his credentials to Governor Dame Cindy Kiro and officially taken up his post as the US ambassador to New Zealand. Political Reporter Lilian Hanly was at his media conference this morning and spoke to Guyon Espiner.

Parent speaks out after airborne asbestos study; Chris Sidoti on UN inquiry into Palestinian rights; Weta Workshop chair to help drive Wellington growth

An update on the latest news and results from RNZ's sports team.

Wellington City Council has appointed three expert business advisory groups to help propel economic growth in the city. One of those in the business advisory groups is Phil Royal. He's a former Wellington managing partner and board member of PwC and current chair of Weta Workshop. He spoke to Guyon Espiner.

The latest news from the United States with Nine News' Lauren Tomasi.

An update on the latest news from RNZ's rural team.

The latest news from RNZ's business team.

The Australian human rights expert Chris Sidoti is on the United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory. He's been in Geneva, presenting findings to the United Nations Human Rights Council on human rights violations against Palestinian children. Sidoti spoke to Guyon Espiner.

Elle Chrisp, a mum whose children played with asbestos-contaminated play sand and has been demanding more accountability and long term health monitoring. She spoke to Guyon Espiner following this morning's findings from a study that found airborne asbestos in children's play sand products.

An update on the latest news from RNZ's rural team.

The latest news from RNZ's business team.

Community Housing Aotearoa's Paul Gilberd on homelessness; Police raid Brian Tamaki's house to take firearms; The Nord Stream Conspiracy.

An update on the latest news and results from RNZ's sports team.

An update on the latest news from RNZ's rural team.

The latest news from RNZ's business team.

The latest news from Australia with correspondent Amanda Copp in Canberra.

Hundreds of people cut off by this week's storm will likely be isolated for several days, some without power, and authorities are considering getting food and supplies through by boat or by air. Dame Fran Wilde, Mayor of South Wairarapa spoke to Guyon Espiner.

An update on the latest news from RNZ's rural team.