Morning Report

KiwiSaver has turned into an election issue this year, with a range of policies proposed from parties across the spectrum. But there are some interesting things happening for funds at the moment. Money correspondent Susan Edmunds spoke to John Campbell.

Labour's Kapiti candidate Sophie Handford, and National MP and Napier candidate Katie Nimon joined Ingrid Hipkiss for this week's political panel.

At some point today a half-a-billion-dollar satellite is set to burn up somewhere over the Pacific Ocean after an attempt to save it failed. Nasa's Swift Observatory was launched in 2004 to study black holes and exploding stars. But ever since then its orbit has been slowly dropping, and in 2025 a last-ditch rescue to push it back up didn't work. Otago Museum director and astronomer Ian Griffin spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Days out from the close of voting, the election remains too close to call. The 1News-Verian poll out last night shows the right-bloc ahead of the left, but the gap narrowing. Deputy political editor Craig McCulloch spoke to John Campbell.

It's all on in Christchurch's biggest electorate, the swing seat of Banks Peninsula. Covering a vast and diverse area, the peninsula switched from red to blue for the first time in more than 20 years at the last election, by a very slim margin. National's Vanessa Weenink secured 396 seats more than Labour's Tracy McLellan in 2023 - with both contesting the seat again. Reporter Keiller MacDuff went to talk to the locals.

An early morning sports news update.

The latest market updates and news from RNZ's business team.

A group of Hawke's Bay vegetable farmers are trying to work out what to grow after a feasibility study found they should avoid a McCain style large scale model again. The closure of McCain's frozen vegetable processing factory in Hastings earlier this year impacted 100 farmers across the region. At the same time the Government has announced that Hawkes Bay's arable sector will receive a $3 million Regional Infrastructure Fund loan for a new grower-led seed cleaning, processing and storage facility. Central Hawke's Bay grower Hugh Ritchie spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

A charity supporting homeless young people says it's helped primary-school aged children in the last year. Kick Back has released its second State of the Street report this morning, which found 73 percent of the young people accessing its services are either sleeping rough or couch surfing - up from 44 percent from its previous report. It found family breakdown is a leading cause of youth homelessness, with almost a third saying they'd suffered violence or abuse, or left home because they felt unsafe. Matthew Theunissen reports.

The leader of NZ First has criticised other political leaders for eating ice cream, patting dogs, flipping burgers and running in marathons, during the election campaign.In a Facebook post this week, Winston Peters said his political party had been focussing on answering the questions of ordinary hardworking kiwis on the issues affecting them, rather than providing political clickbait. NZ First Leader Winston Peters spoke to John Campbell.

Americans are heading to the polls today to decide the make-up of Congress - and ultimately how the final two years of Donald Trump's presidency will play out. CNN's Karin Caifa spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss from Washington DC.

An early morning update from RNZ's business team.

More than 300 business and industry leaders will converge on Christchurch today for Tourism Summit Aotearoa. As the country's second largest export earner, tourism brought in $14.3 billion dollars in the year to June - that's up 20 per cent on the year before. René de Monchy, chief executive of Tourism New Zealand spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

There has been mounting speculation the US could resume strikes on Iran after the midterm elections. Yesterday, US President Donald Trump said he was in "no rush" to ramp up military action. However, officials have since confirmed strikes were carried out on Iran's Qeshm Island, in the Strait of Hormuz. US Central Command has not commented on the action, but officials described the strikes as limited and defensive. BBC's security correspondent Frank Gardner spoke to John Campbell.

Minimum standards about how cow collars should be used on farm are included in the new code of animal welfare for dairy cattle, but one veterinarian wants regulations to go further, meanwhile powder prices continue to rise at the Global Dairy Trade auction. Rural News on Morning Report with Gianina Schwanecke.

An early morning sports news update.

A group of Hawke's Bay vegetable farmers is trying to work out what to grow after a feasibility study found they should avoid a McCain-style large scale model again. McCain's closure of its frozen vegetable processing factory in Hastings impacted 100 farmers across the region and a group of growers looked at taking the factory over, but the company sold its processing equipment. The group embarked on a feasibility study, with $50,000 of government funding - and now, as Alexa Cook reports, farmers are trying to figure out what to do next.

Catch up with the latest headlines from around the world with RNZ's Alice Wilkins.

With cost-of-living and health repeatedly named as the top two issues in this election, it's perhaps no surprise to see people thinking about financial security, both in terms of hoping to own their own home, and saving for retirement and old age. ASB's Investor Confidence Survey interviewed nearly 800 adults between July and September - finding younger voters are more likely to be swayed by parties' retirement policies. ASB Senior Economist Chris Tennent-Brown spoke to John Campbell.

National faces party vote challenge as campaign winds up; Chris Hipkins discusses last week on campaign travel; Dr Claire Ward on working as a GP at 78; Maia Wilson on players' concerns over netball's future

This evening ballet fans have a rare chance to get up close to those extraordinary outfits from four decades of New Zealand ballet. Tonight's 'Costume in Motion' catwalk show will see dancers and dance students take to the runway at Wellington's St James Theatre to model costume couture from previous Royal New Zealand Ballet shows. Susie Lees-Jeffries, RNZ Ballet's director of Development and External Affairs spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

It's the final day of campaigning in the United States before the midterm elections. In the state of Michigan, a prominent Democrat has endorsed a Republican nominee - throwing open the senate race in the state. The result could also ultimately decide who controls the chamber for the last two years of Donald Trump's presidency. Philip Crowther is in Detroit and spoke to John Campbell.

An early morning sports news update.

The latest market updates and news from RNZ's business team.

New Zealanders have an opportunity to save money on their power that's equal to the potential of solar, but they may not even be aware of it, one market commentator says.

A survivor of domestic violence says the law makes it too easy for her abusive ex-partner to block their children from accessing counseling despite their pleas for therapy. A new report by Backbone Collective details how abusive legal guardians are preventing their tamariki from accessing therapy and healthcare, because consent of both parents is needed. The organisation advocates for survivors of domestic violence and is calling for changes to the law that would prioritise children's safety. Amy Williams reports.

Gisborne District Council is welcoming an independent review that finds the organisation's approach to the forestry industry is justified and proportional given the erosion risks in the region. Gisborne Mayor Rehette Stoltz spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Kiwis see Labour as the party best equipped to deal with the top issues facing the country, according to a recent poll. Monday's IPSOS polling showed more people have confidence in the party to tackle the top five issues of the election. Cost of living, healthcare, petrol prices, the economy and unemployment. Labour's leader Chris Hipkins spoke to John Campbell.

Pahiatua Medical Centre has been given a lifeline, after being sold to local iwi, the Ngati Kahungunu ki Tamaki-nui-a-Rua Trust. The sale follows months of uncertainty and staff departures at the centre which was owned by Tararua Health Group. Registered nurse Mark Emmerson was one of six staff who resigned from the centre. He spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Almost one in five people who voted National in 2023 now back ACT or New Zealand First, according to a breakdown of the latest RNZ-Reid Research poll. But Labour is still the biggest single beneficiary of National's reduced support. The new polling data comes as the election draws ever closer with just four days to go and the race on to secure every last candidate and party vote. RNZ Political editor Jo Moir spoke to John Campbell.

More than 25 percent of GPs are working past retirement age, almost double the number working beyond 65 a decade ago. Data from the Medical Council of New Zealand shows more than a quarter of GPs will turn 65 in the next decade. Some have even tried retiring and returned to work. Dr Clare Ward is among them - she's still working at 78. She spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

An early morning sports news update.

The latest market updates and news from RNZ's business team.

Southland patients say a lack of urology specialists is leaving them in pain, in limbo and with little faith in the public health system. They have told RNZ stories of spending two years with a catheter, months waiting for radiation treatment for aggressive cancer and repeated trips to Christchurch for treatment. Otago Southland reporter Katie Todd reports.

Players met with Netball Zealand last night to discuss plans for an elite competition in 2027, after the sport's governing body pulled the pin on a deal with investors Anna Mowbray and Ali WIlliams. The news was a shock to players who heard about the league's axing through the media.Silver Fern Maia Wilson spoke to John Campbell.

More than 40 percent of people who voted for National in 2023 aren't planning to vote for them this election - according to analysis of the latest RNZ-Reid Research. National is facing a split vote campaign, with ACT and NZ First supportive of a campaign for people to give them the party vote, and National the electorate vote. National party leader Christopher Luxon spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

An early morning update from RNZ's business team.

Forestry owners in Tairawhiti say a new report into Gisborne District Council's forestry consent and compliance measures reinforces the need for the Government to step up and help the region. The New Zealand Forest Owners Association represents the commercial plantation forest industry. Its chief executive, Elizabeth Heeg spoke to John Campbell.

The latest rural news with Gianina Schwanecke.

It's the last day of campaigning before voting closes in the US midterm elections tomorrow. Democrats are fighting to win back control of the House of Representatives, and the Senate. New polling suggests Democratic candidates are leading in five critical Senate races. They need to flip at least four seats, and hold onto their own, to wrestle back control of the Senate from Republicans. The race in Michigan is drawing extra attention, after Democratic congresswoman Haley Stevens threw her support behind Republican Mike Rogers. CNN's Karin Caifa spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss from Washington.

An early morning sports news update.

Some general practitioners are putting off retirement or coming out of it to help the healthcare system - especially in rural communities. One doctor has taken to seeing patients in a caravan fitted out as a mobile clinic in his spare time. Anya Fielding reports.

Catch up with the latest headlines from around the world with RNZ's Alice Wilkins.

Retailers are feeling more confident about the year ahead, coming off a challenging year, according Retail NZ's latest survey. Almost three quarters of members are confident their businesses will survive the next year - that's well about confidence levels recorded across the last two years. Retail NZ's chief executive Carolyn Young spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Chloe Swarbrick responds to National's election attacks; David Seymour on ACT's pitch for the party vote; Sir John Key on the battle for Epsom and National's future; John Campbell talks to Auckland voters on Queen Street; Porirua mayor reflects on Kylie Wihapi's legacy